Magnesium Plays a Role in Blood Sugar Control

Magnesium is important for blood sugar balancing, researchers reported in a recent study. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is required for over 300 biochemical reactions. The 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) revealed that a substantial number of American adults fail to get recommended amounts of magnesium in their diets.

In this new study, researchers evaluated the relationship between magnesium status and blood sugar control in subjects with elevated blood sugar levels. The subjects were assessed for dietary magnesium intake and magnesium levels in urine, plasma, and red blood cells. The subjects were also evaluated for fasting blood sugar, 2-hour post-prandial (after eating) blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1c, which is a measurement of blood sugar control over the previous 3 months. Kidney function was also assessed, due to the fact that magnesium is excreted from the body via the kidneys. Thus microalbuminuria, which is the amount of the protein albumin in the urine; proteinuria, the amount in protein in the urine; and serum and urine creatinine, a measurement of kidney function, were also evaluated.

The results of the study showed that magnesium intake and levels of urine, plasma, and red blood cell magnesium were low in this population. In fact, 77 percent of the subjects had at least one value below the cut-off point of low magnesium status. The subjects also demonstrated poor blood sugar control with elevated blood sugar levels and 2-hour post-prandial glucose levels. The researchers found that the parameters that influenced fasting blood sugar were urine and plasma magnesium levels and dietary magnesium intake. Also, they showed that plasma magnesium was influenced by creatinine clearance, a calculated value that represents overall kidney function.

The researchers concluded that magnesium levels were affected by kidney function and are altered in subjects with elevated blood sugar levels. They also concluded that magnesium plays an important role in healthy blood sugar levels.

Reference:

Sales CH, Pedrosa LF, Lima JG, Lemos TM, Colli C. Influence of magnesium status and magnesium intake on the blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Clin Nutr. 2011 Jan 31. Published Online Ahead of Print.